Telescope with rangefinding reticle



33-21, 2,3%.,@50 5R July 16, 1968 G. HERTER ET AL 3,392,450

TELESCOPE WITH RANGEFINDING RETICLE Filed Jan. 2l.- 1965 #fram/ErfUnited States Patent Ofi-ice 3,392,450 Patented July 16, 1 968 3,392,450TELESCOPE WITH RANGEFINDING RETICLE George L. Herter and Russell N.Hofmeister, Waseca,

Minn., assignors to Herters Inc., Waseca, Minn., a corporation ofMinnesota Filed Jan. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 522,083 4 Claims. (Cl. 243-50)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A telescopic sight for a riile is providedwith a rangefinding, transparent reticle having a plurality of targetspanning devices of various sizes located thereon. Each of thesespanning devices is centered on one of a plurality of vertically spacedhorizontal, range compensating cross hairs, and the spanning devices aresized to span a target of predetermined size at a range corresponding tothe range indicated by the horizontal cross hair on which they arelocated.

This invention relates to a reticle for a telescopic sight adapted to beused on rilies with such calibers as may be used in hunting, targetshooting and the like.

It is frequently desirable to determine the range of the target so as toimprove the possibilities of hitting the target with the bullet orprojectile from the gun. Heretofore, adequate range nding means have notbeen provided in telescopes used as sights for hunting rilles.

An object of our invention is to provide a new and improved reticle ofsimple and inexpensive construction and operation for use in atelescopic sight of a hand held projectile-iiring gun. Another object ofour invention is to provide a novel reticle for a telescopic sight toinstantly indicate to the user of the sight, the range of the target andthe point of impact of the projectile at the indicated range.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similarl parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. l `is an elevation view of a telescopic sight applied to a rifle ofthe type commonly used for hunting and target shooting.

FIG. 2 ris an enlarged view showing the reticle as it appears to theuser of the telescopic sight.

The telescopic sight is indicated in general by numeral and is attachedby a suitable mount 11 to a rie 12.

The telescope has a transparent reticle disc 13, on which the verticalhairline or indicator 14 is carried. As is conventional in reticles fortelescopic sights, the vertical hairline or indicator 14 indicates thewindage alignment relative to the target. The reticle is also providedwith a horizontal centering means or cross hair 15 which constitutes theprimary sighting cross hair in the telescope. By adjusting the elevationand windage alignment screws 16 and 17, the point of intersectionbetween the vertical cross hair 14 and the horizontal cross hair 15 willindicate the point of impact of the bullet from the rifle 12 at adistance of two hundred (200) yardsD Additional horizontal centeringmeans or horizontal cross hairs 18, 19 and 20 intersect the verticalindicator or hairline so as to indicate the point of impact of thebullet or projectile at ranges of three hundred (300) yards, four (400)yards, and iive hundred (500) yards respectively. In other words, if thetarget is located at a distance of four hundred (400) yards from therifle, a viewing through the telescope 10 will show the point of impactof the bullet at four hundred (400) yards distance at the intersectionbetween the vertical hairline 14 and the cross hair 19.

The reticle also has a plurality of target spanning devices 21, 22, 23,and 24 each on a respective cross hair 15, 18, `19 and 20, to indicatethe range at which the target spanning device is to be used effectively.It will be understood that certain targets are of known, or at leastestimable size. For instance, it is a fairly accurate estimate that indeer or antelope, the distance between the top of the back at theshoulders and the bottom of the chest cavity is a distance ofapproximately 18 inches. The target spanning circles or devices 21-24will span an 18 inch target at the range designated for each of thetarget spanning devices. For instance, when the target T-1 issuccessively viewed through spanning devices 21, 22, 23 and 24, it willbe found that the depth of the chest cavity is considerably less thanthe diameter of each of the spanning devices 21 and 22, and isconsiderably greater than the diameter of the spanning device 24.However the depth of the chest cavity of the target T-l is substantiallyidentical to the diameter of the spanning device 23 disposed on the fourhundred (400) yard cross hair 19. By merely keeping the cross hair 19 onthe target and aligning the vertical hairline 14 on the target, hittingthe target can be assured. The actual range designations are relativelyunimportant for purposes of properly sighting and estimating thedistance of the target and for properly shooting. The person holding andshooting the rie and viewing the target does not need to know theyardage figure of the range, but this yardage figure is provided as amatter of interest.

Likewise, if the target T-2 were to be red at, the target would besuccessively viewed in two or more of the spanning devices 23 and 24 todetermine whether the spanning devices have the same diameter as thechest cavity of the target T2. It will be found that the depth of thechest cavity will be spanned by the spanning device 24, and because ofthe location of the spanning device 24 on the vertical hairline 14, nofurther adjustment of the sighting need be effected and the rille may befired to strike the target with the projectile or bullet. It will beseen that we have provided a new and improved sighting reticle fortelescopic sights on the riile whereby a target of known or estimablesize can be -viewed through spanning devices each of which is disposedat a cross hair which will be used when it is found that the target fitsthe particular spanning device so as to assure that the point of theimpact of the bullet from the rifle is at the target as viewed in thereticle.

Of course it will be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts withoutdeparting from the scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. A rangefnding and compensating telescope reticle for a target ofestimable size comprising:

a vertical indicator ext-ending across the field of view of a telescopeto indicate windage alignment on a target;

a plurality of horizontally extending centering means vertically spacedalong said "vertical indicator to Iindicate at the intersection of saidvertical indicator and each of said centering means a projectile impactat known distances;

a plurality of rangending devices, each centered on a respective one ofsaid centering means and having spaced apart visible portions forspanning a target of known size at the distance indicated by the centering means on which it is located, said rangefinding devices beingdispersed on said centering means in non-overlapping relationship witheach other.

The telescope reticle according to claim 1 wherein:

said rangefinding devices are randomly located in spaced apart relationto each other.

3. The telescope reticle according to claim 1 wherein at least some ofsaid rangefinding devices are also centered on said vertical indicatorto minimize sighting adjust ments to locate the point of impact on thetarget.

4. The telescope reticle according to claim 1 wherein said rangendingde-vices are circular enclosures to facilitate spanning the target inimultiple directions between and including vertical and horizontal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Critchett 33-50.5 Deming.

Karnes 33-50.5 X

Karnes 33--50.5 X

OBrien 33-50.5

1() HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner.

